WASHINGTON (Realist English). On July 28, the US Senate overwhelmingly approved — by a vote of 86 to 12 — a procedural vote on a bill introducing new “crushing” sanctions against Russia and Iran.
The document, named the “Lindsey Graham Russia and Iran Sanctions Act,” was passed on the day of the Republican senator’s funeral. Graham had worked on advancing the bill until his final days.
At the same time, the White House hosted the first meeting in ten months between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The talks in the Oval Office, which lasted about an hour, were described by both sides as “productive” and “good.”
Zelensky said the sides discussed the production of interceptor missiles for Patriot systems and “some other ideas that could help.”
“Crushing” Sanctions: 500% Tariffs and a Blow to Allies
The bill, agreed upon by senators from both parties, provides for unprecedented measures that could affect not only Russia but also its largest trading partners.
Key provisions of the document:
- Mandatory imposition of 500% tariffs on all Russian goods imported into the US;
- 100% tariffs on goods from the five largest countries buying Russian oil and gas, as well as states helping Moscow circumvent sanctions;
- Sanctions against Russia’s top political and military leadership, state companies, and foreign enterprises supporting the Russian defence industry;
- Expansion of restrictions against the “shadow fleet” used to evade oil sanctions;
- Presidential authority to impose sanctions on Russian officials, oligarchs, and financial institutions.
As Bloomberg notes, the bill’s passage was made possible by bipartisan consensus achieved after the death of Lindsey Graham. The senator, one of the most consistent advocates of a hard line toward Moscow, had secured support from his colleagues before his death on July 11.
According to media reports, the vote on the bill was broadcast live to the Ukrainian delegation present at the Capitol.
Oval Office Meeting: A “Good” Conversation and a Patriot License
On July 28, Zelensky arrived at the White House through a side entrance for closed-door talks with Trump. The formal occasion for the visit was the funeral of Lindsey Graham, but the Ukrainian leader’s main goal was to secure support from the US president amid the protracted war.
Following the meeting, Zelensky wrote on social media platform X that the Oval Office conversation was “good”:
“A good meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office. Thank you for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and achieve peace.”
The White House also confirmed that both of Trump’s meetings — with Zelensky and with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — were “positive and productive.”
The key topic of the talks was providing Ukraine with a license to produce interceptor missiles for Patriot systems. Earlier, at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7–8, Trump had already announced this decision.
As Semafor notes, this would be a critical boost for Ukraine in a war that has already lasted four years.
Shift in Trump’s Policy: From Cold to Warm
Western analysts note that the Oval Office meeting signalled a shift in the Trump administration’s approach to Ukraine. Earlier, in October 2025, Zelensky had left Washington without significant results.
Among the factors influencing the US president’s change of position, experts highlight:
- Ukraine’s battlefield successes, which have slowed the advance of Russian forces;
- A shift within the Republican Party in favour of Kyiv, confirmed by the “high-profile conversion” of ultra-right activist Laura Loomer, who after a visit to Kyiv acknowledged she had been under the influence of Russian propaganda.
According to Al-Monitor, the wars in Ukraine and Iran have reached “critical stages,” and Trump’s relationships with both leaders have “noticeably changed.” At the same time, Trump, according to sources, “has always valued winners,” and Zelensky is increasingly taking on the traits of just such a leader in his eyes.
The sanctions bill, which has received bipartisan support in the Senate, must now be considered by the House of Representatives. If passed, it would become the toughest sanctions package against Russia since the start of the war.
For Ukraine, the Oval Office meeting was an important diplomatic success. As Zelensky noted before the Senate vote, the new sanctions are “a big signal to Europe, a big signal to Ukraine.”
However, the question remains open: is Trump’s new position a strategic calculation, or is it genuinely a shift in course that will determine whether Kyiv receives the support it is counting on?
